7 Signs Your Factory Needs an Industrial Deep Clean

Shop floor looking grubby? It might be time for an industrial deep clean

It’s no secret or revelation that factories can be grubby and dirty places. Dirt, oil, grease, metal shavings, dust, chemicals and debris can be commonplace and can build up quickly if left unchecked. 

Factories need regular maintenance and cleaning to keep on top of things, otherwise it can be a slippery slope towards unmanageable conditions and significant hazard concerns. However, while a factory may undertake a routine of regular cleaning, sometimes industrial deep cleaning is needed to tackle challenging areas, stubborn residues or inaccessible areas. 

Industrial deep cleaning is a more intensive form of cleaning that reaches areas often overlooked in regular cleaning routines, focusing on thorough removal of deeply ingrained dirt, residues, and potential hazards. This might include heavy-duty cleaning of machinery, floors, walls, ventilation systems, and hard-to-reach areas where contaminants accumulate over time. 

Here are the 7 top signs that your factory may need an industrial deep clean: 

1. An area of your facility has become a dumping ground for debris

We often come across areas of our clients’ factories that are a dumping area for tools, scrap metal, spare equipment and machinery. These areas are out of the way, and so are treated with the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. Industrial basements can be an example of this, especially if you have piles of waste product building up from the production areas above. 

If you feel like an area of your site is been treated as a discard pile for your old equipment, waste, tools, etc., it might be time for a deep clean. This is especially true if the space is coated in oil, grime, waste product or other residues which can cause significant safety hazards.

2. You’ve failed, or come close to failing, an audit

Of course, failing an audit is the worst case scenario for an industrial manager – and a lot of our work as industrial cleaners is to help avoid these scenarios, at least from a cleaning perspective. 

Failing an inspection, whether for safety, cleanliness or quality, shows that somewhere along the line standards have fallen short. When standards have been left to drop over a period of time, an industrial deep clean is needed to bring the areas back to an acceptable level. This deep clean, or pre-clean, allows you to move forward with regular cleaning that keeps those areas clean, which will then allow you to stay prepared for future inspections.

3. Higher defects in products or products have been rejected due to contamination

An increase in product defects or contaminated goods often points to cleanliness issues on the production floor. Dust, debris, and grime can easily make their way onto production lines, interfering with manufacturing processes and leading to contamination. For example, we’ve had oil and dirt fall onto manufactured products from the girders and gantries above the lines. 

Industrial deep cleaning removes particulates and residues that impact product quality, ensuring a cleaner production environment and reducing the chance of products getting rejected due to dirt. This helps maintain a high standard of quality and reduces costs associated with defects.

4. You’d be embarrassed taking your customers or visitors on a tour of site

When the thought of showing clients or visitors around your facility causes worry, it’s a sign that cleaning needs more attention. A cluttered, grimy or disorganised workspace not only affects employee morale but also reflects poorly on your business and your reputation. 

Industrial deep cleaning can give your factory the reset that it needs – although it’s important not to think of this as an emergency last minute saviour. Trying to book in a deep clean a week before a proposed visit causes nothing but stress and upheaval; where possible, try and schedule a deep clean in advance, if that’s what’s needed. 

5. An overall grubby and oily appearance on site

Factories often have stereotypes attached to them of being oily, grubby, and generally unclean spaces. However, it’s more than possible to not embody this stereotype if adequate cleaning is prioritised. Over time, industrial environments accumulate layers of grime, grease and dust that regular cleaning just can’t fully address. 

Industrial deep cleaning tackles this buildup, reaching areas that daily cleaning might miss, restoring surfaces and giving your spaces a new lease of life. 

6. You’ve had more near misses or Health & Safety concerns

An increase in near misses or H&S scares is a more tangible sign that your factory isn’t at the level it needs to be. It’s vital for industrial sites to be kept at an acceptable level of cleanliness to prevent safety concerns for employees and visitors. To prevent more serious accidents from happening, partner with a professional industrial cleaning company who can work with you to identify problem areas to fix. 

7. Employees are spending more time cleaning than doing their normal jobs

When employees are spending more time cleaning than doing the jobs they’re trained and paid to do, then your productivity suffers. Outsourcing your deep cleans can leave your staff to get on with what they do best. 

Partnering with an industrial cleaning company also means that you build a trusting and mutual working relationship where you can rely on the cleaning company to support you with cleaning issues in the future. It’s a beneficial relationship for both sides.